Packaged very securely.  Easy to assemble--even gives you the tool to put it together!  My cat jumped in the enclosed area right away.  She was skeptical of the little basket on the left to sleep in, but after I took time to show her gently how it worked and that she wasn't going to fall through, she now sleeps in it all the time.  My cat is small and just fits in both areas, so if you have a bigger cat, this won't work for them.  Fabulous price and a fabulous product!!!